Door fastener



May 29, 192s. 1,671,289

l' O. W. HOOPPAW ET AL DOOR FASTENER Filed Sept. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl May 29, 1928.

1,671,289 O. W. HOOPPAW ET AL v DOOR FASTENER Filed Sept. 17, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 29, 1928.

l .Unirse STATES PATENT ofFFlcE,

osoAR W. HooPPAw AND CHARLES A. RlrNnHART, oF sfr. Louis, MISSOURI,AssIGNons T0 HOOPPAW MANUFACTURING CQMPANY,OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACOBPOBA.-

TION OF MISSOURI.

DOOR FASTENER.

Application inea september 17, 1923. serial No. 663,126..

vvrllhis invention relates to fasteners iai-nd latches, and moreparticularly to a fastener for doors of automobile bodies and the like,but not necessarily limited to such application and use. The pre-sentinvention is a direct improvement upon that disclosed in our pendingapplication Serial Number 526,- 488, 'filed January 3, V1922, and hasfor its objects to simplify and make vmore practical 4the generalstructure in manufacture and installation of the fastener; to provideanovel outside operating ha-ndle construction and arrangement so as tosecure ease of operation and at the same time provide for simplicity7and iiicety of adjustment; `and to `attain certain further advantages aswill more fully appear in the following description. f

The invention consists in the parts and in the combinations andarrangements y'of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out withparticularity in the appended claims;

In the drawings, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of the adjacent uppercorner portions of the door and side of an ordinary automobile body,with parts of the upholstery removed to expose ythe body-plate ofthefastener so as to show how it is mounted; y

Figure 2 is a top edge view of the ydoor and adjacent side portions ofthe automobile 3ody, with the fastener installed as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in Vedge elevation and partly in`vertical crosssection, of the door, showingmanner of connecting theoutside yoperating the inside actuator for the latch member;

Figure it is an inner face view ofthe bodyplate and mechanisnn mountedthereon;

Figure 5 is a top edge view of the parts shown in Figure d;

Figure 6 is a side edge view of the parts i shown in Figure t;

Figure 7 is an outer face view of the striker-plate or keeper-bracketdetached;

Figure 8 is an edge view ofthe latter Figure 9 is a cross-sectionthrough the door-post, showing the striker-plate or keeper-bracketattached;

Figures 10 and 1-1'are detail views of the outside operating handledetached;

v1F igures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification of the outifde operatinghandle;

order 'to facilitatehandle withl 'Figure 14 illustrates afurthermodifica-V tion of the -outsideoperating handle; .and

F'gures 1.5 and `16 illustrate a still further modification of theloutside operating handle.

Referring now to the drawings, thefnui meral 1designateslt-hefdoorandthe numerals 2l and 3, respectively, theladjaoentfside `portions of `an ordinary vautomobile ybody. The

door is hinged, as at 4, in the .usual manner, so as to swing outward inopening. As

sho-wn (see Figure 21), the meeting edges nof the door 1 and :thedoor-post are rabbeted correspondingly, as at y6, 6. The .inner face ofthe door (see Figure 1) lis provided with the usual upholstery Ipanelv7, 4part of which latter is broken away to expose the top rail 8 andfend rail V9 of the frameof the door, to

which rail members the Vbody-'plate 1() is attached by thefscrews 11. Inthis connection, it may he here stated that the fbody-platestructure andthe manner `in which it is lfastened to the door servcsasa gusset-vplateor reinforcement of the door-frame and obviates the necessity forproviding the latter Vwith the usual supplemental supporting block yorfranie -n'iem'ber for the fastener, -andfatwthe Sametime it minimizeslthecutting.away or mortising of the door frame to accommodate themechanism.

A part-of the upholstery 12 of the 'bodyfof the automobile is also shownremoved to expose the door-post 5 in the region where thestriker-plateor keeper-bracket13 :for the fastener is attached.Thekeeper comprisesiessentially a suitable bracket member 13, which, asshown, .'s preferably anangle-plate provided with apertures Mvinone ofyits flanges (see Figure 82) for the reoeptionof screws -or bolts 15(see 'Figure 9) by which it is attached to the door-post. Preferably,this iange is counter-sunk into the `door-post so that the outer .faceyof ithe 'flange issubstantiall-y flush with the Atace of `'the doorpostatthe baseiof-the rabbet, the ribor bead portion being cut-away, `as at6", to :make clearance Afor the fianged box extension 10a of thebody-plate 10, which said `extension is of width and depth correspondingtothe wid-th and depth of the irabbeted portionio'f the door. plateportion of this-keeper-:bracket isa stud 16 having aftransverse grooveor notch 17 and *a tape/red end vportion 18.

@n the other iange or striker-f `asand` registering with the aperture19.

This plate 20, Which is provided principally as areiniorcement, may beattached to `the body-plate 10 in any desirable manner, but,

preferably, it is provided at three places, as

shown, with lugs 21 which are turned at right angles to the body portionofthe plate and are of a length sul'licient to enter a ertures Aprovided'therefor `in the body-plateV 10 and in whichaperturessaid lugs are rivileted'seeurely.

Harige-22 which abuts a marginal flange or the wall ofv thebox-e1rtension 10` of the body-plate 1t), said lange or Wall 23 beingprovided for attachment tothe end or' the door and said llange 22atl'ording a rein-` forcement :l'or relieving the flange ortwall 23o'lthrusts strains. This supplemental plate 20 is further provided `withan aperlture registering with a like aperture in the body-plate 10 toreceive and `have. riveted or otherwise fastened` therein. lthe reducedvend portion ol:l shouldered pivot-stud 24' lor a rocking lever or latchmember 25 whose end portion Worlrs in a slotL provided therefor in saidflange 22 or' the supplemental plate 2() as indicated by dotted lines,as at 26, in YFigure 4.

rlhe latch member 25 has an angular extension 25, the end p'ortioirof`which is turned upto constitute a lug 27, oneedge portion of whichlatter is bevelled or inclined, as 28, to atlord a cam face. The

opposite edge portion of the lug `27 is pro` vvided with a notch 29 toreceive the end portion of oneleg 30 o1' a springeleinent whose middleportion is looped and coiled, as at 31, and Vwhose other leg 32isengaged in a notch 33m the edge out a lug 34 which i turned up fromthe supplemental plate 20.

The looped middle portion 31 of the spring is overhung by a hooked lug35 eX- tending up and outward from the margin of the latch member 2oandVthrough said loop i oliftliespring with ample clearance and loosenesstoavoid binding and taining thespring in place.

`The spring `is constantly .under tension and, iitsilegs 30 and 32acting in opposed relation upon the respective lugs 271and 34,

yet aid in reholds the latch member'25 yieldably in nor-l mal positionand restores it to such position after each operation thereof. Wheninnormal position, the edge portion or the latch flhe supplemental plate20 has a marginal v be here stated that, as the tapered end portion ofthe stud enters the aperture 19, the

latch member 25 is rocked to clear said aperture, andas the groove ornotch 17 is brought beyond 'the inner face of the plate 20 the latchmember snaps into said groove or,y

notch by the action of the spring. The relative Widthvoif said groove ornotch and thick# ness of the latch member is such that said latch memberreadily enters, more or less play being provided for this purpose as maybe desired. Y So, too, the inner wall of the groove or notch 17 ispreferably bevelled or inclined, as at 17 a, to further-insure theentering ot the latch member-into the groove or notch. i

Pivoted between ears 36, struck up from the body-plate 10, as shown inFigures 4 and G, is an operating lever 37, at one end of which latter isan'angular rejection 38 normally engaging the cam "ace 28 of the exstension25fn of the latch member 25. At the opposite end of the level' 37is a push-button 39 which projects normally through an opening 4() inthebody-plate l0` As shown,

`this push-button is cupped or has its mar-l ginal portion hanged, as at41, andthe opening 40 also has a surrounding 'flange 42 whose upper'portion 45 is pre'teii'ably deeper than the remainder thereof, while thelower portion is cut-away or slotted, vat 44, to provide clearance forthe lever 37. f

The flange 42, which is provided to allor a guard about the edge of theopening 40, is preferably drawn up as an integral part of the bodysplate10, as shown, but, obviously, it may be made as a separate piece andattached to the bodyeplate according to any usual or approved practice.

Vhen the push-button 39 is pressed, the operating lever 37 is rocked andthe latter, in tui-n, by its engagement with the cam portion ot lthelatch member 25, rocks said latch memberso as to move it out ofengagement with the keeperestud 16 and clear of the apen v ture 19, thismovement being arrested by the lll() the supplemental plate 20. When thepush* y A button is relieved ot pressure thereon the spring', of course,restores tonormal position the latch member and the several parts abovenoted which were operated therewith, the

level` 37 at thistime coming to rest against i the inner face ot thebody-plate 10 and the latch member 25 nearly but not touching the lowerend of the slot 26. Y

ll/'lfounted pivotally, as at 45, on an ear 46 struct: up from thesupplemental plate 20, is a second operating lever 47 having a bevranas@vstem 54 of an outside operating handle 55.

The handle 55 `is hingedly attached, 'as at 56, to a lug 57 projectingvfrom the outer face of 'an escutcheon member or :pla-te 58, whichlatter is provided with 'apertures59 to receive screws =60 lace o't' thedoor. The handle is slotted to re'- ceive the lug` 57, and in the lowerportion of the slot is received the outer 'end portion of the connectingstem 54, which latter is hinged to the handle proper, as at 61. In theescutcheon is an aperture '62 to cooperate with an opening 63 in thedoor throughy which the stem 54 'projects i'nward to engage the 'stem52, said openings 62 and 63,`of

course, being of somewhat larger diameter than the stem, so as to affordsufficient clear ance to permit "the necessary swing ot the connectedstems 52 and 54 when the outside operating handle 55 is operated.

As shown, the handle 55, escutcheon 5S, and stem 54 are assembled toconstitute a unitary outside operating handle structure separate fromthe mechanism which is mounted on the 'inner side of the door. Thisfacilita-tes installation ot the fastener vand handle, and theadjustment ott 'the `stem connection between the latch-operating lever47 and outside'handle 55. That is to say, the body-plate 1() withtheworking parts ot the mechanism assembled thereon 'is mounted on theinner side ofj he door, the opening A'63 in the door, of course, beingprepared to receive the screw-threaded stem 52`whic'h is projectedoutward in said opening V63 to be engaged by the outside operatinghandle stem member' 54.

After the body-plate 10 is mounted and the keeper or striker-platecorrespondingly mounted on the door-post 'sothat its stud 16 enters ytheopening 19 in thebody-*plate when the door isclosed and -it having beenascertained that the mechanism is functioning properly, the outsideoperating 'handle is applied by directing .the stein member 54 in wardin the opening 63 in the 'door so 'as to engage the stem member 52. Byturning the handle assembly complete the `stein member 54 is screwed onthe member 52 runtil 'the inner tace of the 'escutcheon 'plate' 58 isbrought into 'Contact with the outer face oi the door and all "loosenessor endplay in the connection aorded by the members 52 'and 54 betweenthe actuator lever' 47 v'forthe `latch member 25 'and `the handle 55 'istaken up, but without Vdisturbing the normal `position for attaching itto the outer f member 52 will `only slightly lengthen or re ln this way`of the inside push-button 39. This adjustment effected the escutcheonmember 58 is secured to the door by the screws '60. Consequently, theadjusted relation of the handle assembly is `thereby maintained, andshouldany further adjustment be necessary, either to tighten or loosenthe link- -cnnection aorded by the member 52 and 54 betweenv the lever47 and handle member 55,

the saine may be readily accomplished -b'y removing the scre'WsGO androtating't'he handle assembly in Ieither direction, as the Icase may be,the screw-threads on the member 52 and 54 being, ol' course, relativelyline so that asingle vturn 'of the member 54 on the To open the door4from the outside it is only necessary jto grasp the handle 'memberhandle and to Itake 55, which is in etl'ect a lever ol' the secondorder, and swing it outward on its fulcrum 56', thereby pulling thelinkage 52, 54, and rocking he actuator lever 47, the lat-ter in turnrocking the latch member 25 and moving it clear ot' 'the notch in thestud 16, the parts being restored to normal position vb'y the springwhich presses the latch member just as hereinbefore pointed out inconnection with the operation -oi the latch member by the actuation ofthe vinside push-button 39 and its attached lever 37.

The graspingportion or' the outside operating handle 55 may be formedand designed in various sha-pes. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 10 and 11, itis o't' the pendent type, ot hooked form, which is readily grasped andconveniently manipulated, the end ot' the handle normally terminatinglclose to but, preferably, not touching the faceot the door, therebypresenting no projections Von which clothing might be liable to catch,and of its very nature indicating that the handle is lto be pulledrather than turned or twisted lin the operation of opening the door.

In Figures12 and 13 the handle is of lthe ofthe substantially horizontalor slightly inclined loop or spade-handle type. Obviously, the graspingportion `of the handle may be still further modified without departingfrom the spirit'of the present invention.

In practice, the stud 16; the reinforcing plate 20, particularly in theregion about the aperture 19 which receives said stud 15; the latchmember 25.; and the cam portions ot' the actuator levers B7 and 47, arecase-hardu ened -obviously 'to minimize 'wear oi' the parts. So,too,'t'he groove 17 in the stud 16 use. i n

Aside from the ease in which the lock and outside operating handleinaybe installed is preferably ol a depth so that, normally, the edgeet' the latch ineinber 25 does not touch the bottoni ot the groove whencngaged. By this provision and also in that thelatch n'ieinber 25normally does not touch the lower end oit the slot 26 in the flange` 22ol" the reinforcing` plate 20, should any wear occur on theA cain faces,`and which would be very slight, it at all, even after long use, suchwear would be taken up by the action ot the spring pressing the latchinen'iher against jthecain extension `olf the lever 37, the clearances,as ,above` pointed out, permittingv it. Consequently, looseness andrattling ol" tlieparts is prevented. Fun theri'nore, the stud 16 littingthe aperture i9 snugly so that there is very` little or no playtransversely, this clearai'ice between the botf torn ot the groove l?and thelatchineinber 25 inakes it practically "impossible that Vthelatter will be jarred and jolted out olf eiigageinent in the groovetroni the shocks to which an automobile bodyis subjected in l on a car,there is thelurther advantage in c' running,

that the door inay be closed without undue torce or slanin'iing, and,when closed` the door. is held securely against accidental opeiiinj.`Also, the door is easily and couV- veniently opened, at will, byinerely pressing-` the inside push-.button or pulling the outsidehandle. IThen again, the construction land arrangement is such that the`usual heavy rubber buinpers heretofore requircifl in conneetion withthe use olf the or inary slidingL bolt tasteiiers are unnecessary withtheA pres ont tasteiier, but only relatively siiiall sound! deadenersneed be used in place thercot and in sonic cases none iuay berequiredcatall.

`Also, the etli'ect oit the tapered end oi" the stud i6 entering` thealierture 'i9` is to guise the door into closed positionand therebyobviates the neces ity tor the usiial dove-tail or separate special.door-giudi-i hert-)tutore generally provided or the piirposein con` inection with the old style locks. Furtherinore, the dowel-like eli'ectotthe studv when the door is closed serves to support the door in everydirection transversely olv the stud and. tliereby relieves the hinges otmuch 'weigl'it and strains thereon incidental to the 'weaving` motion otthe door while the car flagging oi? the door is pre` viififitcd and bylocl'cing` the door -to the pillar or door-post, afforded by theengagement `o'lf the stud in the aperture 19 the bodyplate. tlicbodyotthe car is tied all arouiid so that strains thereon are distributedthroughout and the possibility olf the traine racking loose is preventedor at least greatly minimized.

ln seine cases, particularly on enclosed bodies, it is desirable to havethe' fasteners C, particularly). As shown, this ineinber Gil c has anarcuate end portion 65 which swings just clear ofthe edge ot theextension 25 when the latter' is in normal position, a shoulder (S6being provided on the ii'ieinber G4 to engage a shoulder on the`extension Q5 where the lug27 turned up therejt'roni` thereby affording astop to liinit the'travel 't the ineinber ('34: when it is inoved intoengagement with the extension 25ai The iiieinber 64 is .niounted on astub-shaft (37 rotatable in an aperture providedtheretor in thebody-plate 10 and having on its outer end portion asuitabl'e handleGS'lor inanipulating it, and a suitable friction-washer (S9 being'yprovided ou the shaft betweensaid handle (38 and the outer ,tace ot thebodyplate l0.

By turning the ,nieinber 64 to abut the eXT tension 25H obviously lthelatch ineijiiber loo cannot be rocked. "Flieretore, neither the insidepush-button nor the outside handle can, under this condition, beoperated. In

` the cinployinent oi' such fastening device, it is customary on carshaving twoV or inorev doors, topi'ovide all doors except one withitasteners soequipped, andthe sole door 'for c exit. and entrance with asuitable pillar lock or seine other key-locling ydevice or cylinderoperable troni outside the car, when, ot

course, the other doors areiastened .troni the inside as ust above setjlorth.

it is also noted in turther reference to the peculiar outside handlestructure, that theA l'iandles are always ii'iaintained in their orig- Ylll() inal parallel alineincnt on the. body ot the V,

car, in contradistinction to the usual handles which have tobe rotatedor twisted .in opening the doors and in which cases, the handles oftenstickin their operated'positions or do ,not return to full norinalposition,` due to binding of the handle stein or shanltor the latch-bolt`ol the iastenernot returning to its nornial `projected extcntjwhen thedoor closed. That is tok say', the handles of the present inventionavoid this disadvantage and preserve the original fanciful lines in thebody design.` i

1What is claimed :is: l. ina door fastener, in coinbinationwith acoinponent latch-releasing element having i a link ineinberhingedlyattaChed at'one` end thereto, the opposite end portion of saidlink member being free, of a separate:unitaryoperating handle assembly,including anes-` cutcheon member l'or attachment to the face of thedoor, said escutcheon member having av i transversely-apertured lug onits outer tace,

' stud, said latch yand :i pivot-pin rotatable in the aperture slottedportion of the handle of the lug, said abutting said escutclieon membernormally member, and said handle member having' an offset graspingportion, and a link ineinber hinged at one end in said slotted portion othe handle member and being projected through an aperture provided therefor in said escutcheon member wit-li sull'icient clearance to permitswinging of the connected link and handle members, said second mentionedlink member having its tree end portion arranged and provided forlongitudinally-adjustablc interlocking engagement with the free endportion ol said lirst mentioned link member.

2. In a door fastener, in combination with akeeper member Jforattachment to the door post and having aflange overlapping the inneredge portion of the door and a stud of round cross-section on' said angeprojecting towards the meeting inner tace olf the door, said stud havinga. tapered end portion and a transverse groove between its base and saidtapered end portion, a body-plate for attachment to the inner side ofthe door and having an aperture to receive said keeper stud witharelatively close t, a latch member comprising a spring-pressedrockinglever having a stud-engaging portion normally overlapping saidaperture chord-wise the groove in said keeper member also having a camportion,-an actuator-lever having a cam portion cooperating withthe camportion of said latch member, a push-button on said actuator-leveroperable from the inside of the car, a second actuator-lever having acam portion cooperating with a second cam portion on said latch member,a link inemand enterable in A ber hingedly-attached at one end to saidsecond mentioned actuator-lever and having its opposite end portionscrew-threaded, an escutcheon member for attachment to the outer face ofthe door, a handle-lever hingedly-attached to said escutcheon member,and a link member hingedly-attached at one end to said handle-lever andhaving its opposite end portion screw-threaded as a counterpart of saidfirst mentioned link member whereby to be longitudinally-adjustablyengaged therewith.

3. In a door fastener, in combination with a keeper member forattachment to the door post and having a flange overlapping theinnerface of the door and a. rigidly' mounted, horizontal, cylindricalstud projecting substantially perpendicularly from the outer i'ace ofsaid ilange, said stud having a tapered end portion and a transversegroove between its base and said tapered end portion, the inner wall ofsaid groove being upwardly flaring, a body-plate for aty tachment totheinner face of the door, said plate having an aperture iler the receptionof said stud or' the keeper member, and a latch member movably mountedon the body-plate and having a portion normally' aperture substantiallybeing eiiterable in the of the keeper member.

oi' the character deor attachment to overlapping said chord-wise andgroove in said stud 4. In a door fastener scribed, a keeper member thedoor post and having a stud substantially perpendicular tothe inner sideof the door in the closed position oi' the latter, said stud having atapered end portion and a transverse groove between its base and saidtapered end portion, a body-plate Jfor 'attachment to the inner side otthe door, said plate having an aperture for the reception o'l said studof the keeper member, a latch member comprising a rocking lever having aportion normally overlapping said aperture substantially chord-wise andbeing enterable inv said groove in the stud of the keeper member, meansincluding an operating handle for actuating said latch member, and alocking device on said body-plate and operable from the inside of thecarfor locking said latch member in normal position at will.

5. In a door astenerof the character described, a` keeper member forattachment to the door post and having a stud substantiallyperpendicular to the inner side ofi the door in the closed position ofthe latter, said stud having a tapered end portion and a transversegroove between its ba-se and said tapered end portion, a body-plate forattachment to the inner side of the door, sai plate having an aperturefor the reception of said stud oi the keeper member, a latch membercomprising a rocking lever having a portion normally overlapping saidaperture substantially chord-Wise and a counterportion having a camtace, an actuator-lever having a cam portion cooperating with the camface of said latch member, an operating handle for said actuator-lever,and a locking ,device on said body-plate comprising a pivoted armmovable into engagement with .said latch member in counter-relation tothe cam portion thereof and an operating handle operable Jfrom theinside or" they car for manipulating said locking device atwill.

6. In a door fastener, in combination with a body-plate securable to oneface of the door, a latch-releasing element on the inner tace of saidbody-plate, a link member hingedly attached at one lend to saidlatchreleasing element whereby to swing universally with respectthereto, the opposite end portion of said link member being free, of aseparate unitary operating handle assembly, including an escutcheonmember for attachment to the opposite tace of the door, a handle hingedthereon, and a link member hinged at one end to said handle and havingits opposite end portion arranged and vided for longitudinallyndjustablenterlocking engagement with. the free end p0rtion of said lirst nient 7.In a door fastene ioned link member. r, 1n Combination with a body-platoseeurable to one face of the door, a latch-releasing ele-ment on theinner face ol sai-d body-p late, a link .member hingedly-attaehed at oneend to said latchreleasing element vv'hereby to swing universally withrespect the portion of saidV link reto, the opposite end member beingserew- `member hinged at one end to said handle and having its oppositeend portion'screwthreaded as a counterpart of and beinglongitudinally-a-djustably engageable with the zo screw-threaded endportion of said mentioned link member.

' OSCAR WV. HOOPPAVW CHARLES A. RINEHART.

